May 09, 2023
The U.S. Travel Association, which has been diligently advocating for the end of COVID-19 restrictions along with several other tourism and events industry entities, overwhelmingly welcomed the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement May 1 to repeal the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for inbound travel to the U.S.
“[The] action to lift the vaccine requirement eases a significant entry barrier for many global travelers, moving our industry and country forward, said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of U.S. Travel.
However, he added, the return of international visitors should be as efficient and… more
May 08, 2023
Live events are a key driver for building brand trust, according to the Freeman Trust Report 2023, a research study on the impact of face-to-face interactions on brand loyalty and trust. Powered by Edelman Data and Intelligence, the research reveals 77% of all respondents – and more than 8 out of 10 millennials – say they trusted brands more after interacting face-to-face with them at live events.
Even better news: The halo effects from these interactions lasted at least a month for 64% of people surveyed, resulting in long-term brand trust, recognition, and sales.
Survey data from the… more
May 05, 2023
Global DMC Partners (GDP), the largest global network of independent destination management companies (DMCs) and specialized event service providers, and DMI Hotels, an authorized global sales office for a curated collection of independent hotels and resorts, have joined forces to better serve their meetings clients seeking on-the-ground support and expertise from local DMCs, hotels and event service providers.
According to DMI and Global DMC officials, the newly formed partnership will further elevate each company’s offerings while expanding their services and reach.
“DMI is extremely… more
Apr 27, 2023
Global live event leader Freeman recently acquired Denver-based Impact Point Group, a technology-focused, boutique consultancy firm offering a full suite of strategic advisory and event management services. A nationally certified women-owned business, Impact Point Group’s client roster boasts market-leading tech brands, including Cisco, Atlassian and DocuSign, to name a few.
According to Adam Charles, executive vice president of Freeman’s Agency, the acquisition comes as Freeman continues to invest in growth opportunities for its agency business.
“Impact Point Group brings a proven strategy… more
Apr 13, 2023
As the world gets ready to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, Corporate Event News caught up with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) Executive Director Alexander Alles to find out the latest on Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE), an initiative to connect the events industry globally to the rapidly growing movement toward net zero by 2050. Alles was appointed to the newly created position in August 2022 to oversee the initiative as part of his duties.
When was the initiative launched?
In Nov. 2021, world leaders met in Glasgow, Scotland, at COP26 to present how their countries will achieve… more
Apr 07, 2023
On March 30, the industry came together with record-breaking participation to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), an international day of advocacy that showcases the undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities.
This year’s activation carried the theme #MeetingsMatter and created 45 million impressions worldwide on social media, with 70 events held in 35 countries.
GMID 2023 spotlighted the importance of in-person gatherings to create measurable benefits by advancing… more
Apr 03, 2023
The demand for face-to-face meetings and events is continuing to grow, pushing the industry beyond the darkest days of the pandemic and revealing the strong, enduring need and desire for in-person gatherings, according to Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) recently published Winter Meetings Outlook (winter 2022/2023) report.
This is just the latest of MPI’s future-focused quarterly Meetings Outlook reports that identify new trends and innovations in order to enable meeting and event planners to budget and plan accordingly and ensure a strong foundation for building sound and… more
Mar 30, 2023
The Kentucky General Assembly has passed legislation that includes a revision (from 6% to 0%) to the commonwealth’s sales tax on exhibit and sponsor space rental for face-to-face business events. Signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear on March 24, it states that business event organizers will be exempt from charging sales tax to their exhibitors and sponsors, essentially reversing a new 6% tax that went into effect on Jan. 1.
Some event organizers began collecting taxes from exhibitors and sponsors to be in compliance with the new law, while others informed exhibitors who signed new… more
Mar 24, 2023
Caesars Entertainment, long renowned for its celebrity chef establishments, has further elevated its Las Vegas dining scene with three delectable restaurants by Martha Stewart, Gordon Ramsay and Chris Santos, all of which are available for group bookings.
The recently opened additions join an already impressive list of Caesars Entertainment dining options by top chefs and restaurateurs, including Dominique Ansel, Michael Chow, Giada de Laurentiis, Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, Nobu Matsuhisa, Gordon Ramsay, Buddy Valastro and Lisa Vanderpump.
The Bedford by Martha Stewart
Global lifestyle icon… more
Mar 22, 2023
March, designated Women’s History Month, marks an opportune time to celebrate the female achievers of the events industry and beyond. We had the pleasure of checking in with six outstanding industry professionals to find out how their organizations support women, what they would advise for the next generation of female leaders and who they believe are women to watch.
Monique Ruff-Bell, Head of Events, TED Conferences
What are you most proud of in terms of the ways your organization supports women?
Internally at TED, many of our key departments and initiatives are led by women. We are… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is more